Door opening and closing device.



PATEN TED AUG. 21, 1906 H. C. BUNDY. DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. 1905.

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PATENIED AUG. 2]., 1906.

H. C. BUNDY.

DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1905.

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PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

H. G. BUNDY. DOOR OPENING AND GLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.1B. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. BUNDY, OF VVAIERTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE THIRD TO FRED MORRISON AN D ONE- THIRD TO ERNEST PINSON NEAULT, OF VVATERTOW N, NEW YORK;

DOOR OPENING. AND. CLOSING DEVICE;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21,

Application filed September in, 1905. Serial no. 278.770.

1'0 al whom, it 'nwdy concern,- I

Beit known that I, HENRY BUNDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of J eflerson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Opening and Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in door opening and closing devices designed for use in operating doors or like parts in general; and the invention relates particularly to a device to be employed for opening and closing the doors of fire-department houses, mills, and other buildings or structures where it is not possible or desirable to employ persons to attend them.

The object of this invention is to provide a device which will open a door or like part instantly upon. the unlatching or unlocking of the same, and which will automatically close said door or part without attention or assistance from any one.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will open a door, the unlatching of which may be accomplished by a person stationed at some distance from the door, and either close said door immediately or hold it open for a predetermined period of time, and then close it by means of its selfacting mechanism.

A further object is to provide means for retaining or holding said door in open position for an indefinite period, and thus prevent or delay the closing of the door by the automatic workings of the machine.

The invention consists in features of con.- struction and combination of arts hereinafter particularly described and then sought to be defined by the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation ol the door opening and closing device, showing how it is applied to a door and its frame, showing the device set for operation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device substantially on the line a a of Fig. 3, showing the construction and arrangement of the working parts. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, showing its position when the door is closed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device, showing its position and appearance when the door is open. Fig.

5 is a rear end elevation, showing the cylinders containing the operating-mainsprings and the manner of mounting them, also showing the means for locking the arbors to prevent the accidental unwinding of the springs. Fi 6 is an elevation of the guide yoke or brac ket which is secured to the door and in which the operating-lever is operatively disposed. Fig. 7 is a front end view of the part which comprises the fluid filled valve-cylinder, the check-cylini'ler, and the sleeve portion by which this part is attached to the operating lever or arm, also showing the filling-cup for supplying the liquid to the valve-cylinder. Fig. is an enlarged view of the forked trigger or lever which controls the automatic door-closing mechanism. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the head of the door-opening spring-cylinder looking from the bottom. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the head of the doorclosing-spring cylinder looking from the top. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section of one of the spring-cylinders, taken on the line a: a: of Fig. 1 looking from the top, showing the arbor and spring and the manner of connecting these parts. Fig. 12 is a lon itudinal section of the valve, the position o the valve being reversed to that shown in Fig. 2. Fi 13 is a front view of the plunger to which the valve is connected. Fig. 14 is a horizontal section of the plunger, showing the oil-ducts. Fig. 15 is an end view of one of the arbors, showing the flange and a series of holes or sockets employed for looking or holding the arbor and spring when wound up. Fig. 16 is an elevation of the rocking pawl or pallet which operates in connection with the flanged heads of the cylinders, showing manner of attaching this part to the bracket. Fig. 17 is a plan view of the rocking pawl or pallet. Fig. 18 is a side view of the cross-head of the operatinglever, showing the hole through which the arbor passes. Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 with some parts omitted for clearness and others in dotted lines and with the cylinder 15 turned slightly to the right for clearness of illustration and with cylinder 15 in the position when wound for closing the door.

Similar reference-numerals are assigned to correspondin parts throughout the several views of the rawings.

The whole of the door opening and closing device is preferably made of" metal of difl'ercnt kinds and grades suitable for the construction of a device of the class.

3 represents a bracket, preferably made of cast-iron, which is provided at or near each of its ends with the integral lugs or standards 4 and 5. This bracket is secured to the frame of the door by screws 6 or by any other suitable securing means. All of the working parts of the main device are operably mounted upon and supported by the bracket 3. The outer ends of the lugs 4 and 5 are formed into boxes or bearings, which all'ord pivotal hangers for the parts which operate the door. A central detachable lug or standard 7 is se cured to the base of bracket 3 by means of the screws or bolts 8, and this part also serves as a bearing, the same as lugs 4 and 5. The lugs 4, 5, and 7 are provided'with the boxes or bearing-caps 9, and these are secured to the ends of the several lugs by means of the screws 10, the heads of which are sunk in the recesses 11. The web-like part 12 is cast with the base and the lugs 4 and 5 for the purpose of strengthening the latter parts.

The power for operating my door opening and closing device is obtained from apair of strong mainsprings, which are incased in separate cylinders or drums mounted in and supported by the bracket 3. These cylinders and springs are entirely independent of each other and exert their power in difierent directions-one in the direction to effect the opening of the door, the other in the opposite direction to effect the closing of the door. The springs therefore are disposed and wound in the reverse order.

The mainspring 14-, which is employed for opening the door, is incased in the cylinder or drum 15, while the n'iainspring 14, em-

loyed for closing the door, is mcased in cylmder 15. These springs are secured to the arbors or shafts 16 by means of their inner ends being inserted in and held. by the slots 17, one of which is cut in each arbor, as shown in Figs. 2, 9, and 11. The outer ends of the mainsprings are secured to the casings or shells of the cylinders at the points marked 18, where they pass through and are held by slots or o enings in the sides of the cylinders. These cy inders are composed of the cup-like parts 19, which are formed hollow to about the depth of the height of the springs, and the disks or caps 20, which are employed to close the open ends of the cylinders.

The closed end of cylinder 15 is rovided with. the flange or projection 21 and that of cylinder 15 with the flange 21. These flanges extend a slight distance outside the Walls of the cylinders, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11. The arbors 16 are made alike and pass through the cylinders 15 and 15', and their inner ends have a common bearing in the standard or lug 7. The outer ends of the arbors operate in bearings formed on the lugs 4- and 5. The arbors are each provided with a flange 22, which substantially iills the space between the cylinders and lugs 4- and 5. In the outer face of each flange 22 is provided a number of holes or sockets 23, these being used for locking or holding the arbors from turning when there is a tension. on the mainsprings. The extreme. outer end oi each arbor is formed into a hexagonal part 24, resembling the head of a bolt, and these are adapted to receive any suitable wrench for the purpose of winding or unwinding the springs secured to said arbors. in. order to hold the arbors and springs in any desired position when the latter are wound up, I provide the spring-controllerl pins or bolts 25, having the thumb-nuts 25 upon their outer ends, by means of which the pins are pulled out of the sockets 23 of the arborllanges 22. The springs 26, which control the pins 25, are incased in the spring-boxes 27. (See Fig. 5.) The tension. of spring 26 is exerted to force and hold the pin 25 in the socket 23. The 1nainspring-cylinders 15 and 15 are intended to revolve freely upon the arbors 16; but in the operation. of the device it never becmnes necessary for either of the cylinders to make more than about half a turn. When the arbors are rotated so as to give a tension to the mainsprings, the eylin ders, being connected with the out free ends of the springs, receive the force of the tension or power of the springs. To prevent the loss of the tension of the mainsprings, which to make the device eliective must be constantly maintained at a certain strength, the pins 28 and 29 are provided and are rigidly secured to the heads of the two cylinders. These pins are disposed in such manner that they cannot pass each other, and their path of travel is also obstructed by certain other parts of the device, as the lug '7 and the operating-lever, which prevent the cylinders from rotating more than half a turn. The tension given to the mainsprings by the use of a wrench applied to the outer ends of the arbors is not to be disturbed after the device has been installed upon a door and adjusted for its work. In practice when the device is placed on a door a certain amount of tension will be given to the mainsprings, which will be regulated by the size and weight of the door, it being intended to provide a tension on each of the springs of sufiicient power to just about move the door in either direction. The two mainsprings being wound in opposite directions and given as nearly as possible the same tension the force of the one spring will balance that of the other.

After the mainsprings have been set with a certain amount of tension, as described, which is held or retained by means of the locking pins or bolts 25, the opening of the door by any person will eflect the further winding of the lower cylinder 15, which by tease-5 this operation is rotated backward against the spring 14 by means of the pin 28, which in this case is driven by reason of its contact with the operatinglever 40. When said lever has carried the cylinder 15 around as far as the opening of the door will move it, said cylinder becomes locked and held in that position by another part of the device and will remain in that condition until the holding parts have been released. Then when the door is swung to closed position by the person cylinder 15 is rotated in the forward direction by means of said operating-lever, and if the door is then secured by means of a lock or latch the last-named cylinder will be held from recoiling the same as the first cylinder. The flange 21 of cylinder 15 is provided on its outer edge with the cam-like recess 30, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, and 19, and also with the tooth and notch 31. (Shown in Fi s. 3, 4, 9, 11, and 19.) The flange 21 of cyiinder 1. is provided with the tooth or notch 32, as shown in Figs. .10 and 19.

33 is a rocking pawl or pallet which is disposed behind the central lug or standard 7 and is held in working position by said lug. This pawl or lever is preferably made in one part but it may be made in several parts and assembled in substantially the form as shown herein. when placed in position, one end of said pawl (marked 34) is curved or bent out wardly and is disposed in line with and is intended to engage the tooth or notch 32 of flange 21 on cylinder 15, and when this pawlv is in engagement with tooth 32 it locks or holds said cylinder from recoiling after it has been wound to a higher tension by the operation of o ening the door as described. When the paw 34 of the lever 33 is in notch 32, the curved portion 35 of the other arm of said lever bears against the full level surface of the flange 21 of cylinder 15.

In the operation of the device the movement of the lever or pallet 33 is limited by the depth of the notch or tooth 32 in one case and by the depth of the recess 30 in the other case. In other words, the lever 33 cannot (ngage the notch 32 and also the recess 30 at the same time. In this manner provision is made for the alternate working of the two mainspringcylinders, which is essential in carrying out the purposes of the invention. The lever or pawl 33 is made up of the arms 34 and 35 and the central portion 37, which serves as the journal and affords a means for the rockim of this part. The bearing for pawl 33 is 'ormed by the under side of standard 7 and the cap 38, the latter being scoured by the screws 38. A spring 39 is attached to the base of bracket 3, and its outer or free end bears against the portion 35 of the lever or pawl 33. This spring is employed to assist the pawl in dropping into recess 30, as Well as to aid in releasing the opposite end 34 from the tooth 32 at the time when the device becomes operative to automatically close the door. The instant the door is swung open, as shown in Fig. 4, pawl 34 becomes lree from the tooth 32; but the cylinder 15 is prevented from reeoiling at this time by reason of the pin 28 being in contact with operating-lever 40.

40 represents the door-operating lever or arm, which is preferably made to a length e ual to about half the width of the door. his lever is provided at its inner end with the fork 41, both arms of which are of equal length and are perforated or bored out to receive the inner ends of the arbors 16, upon which the lever is pivoted or hinged, and being disposed centrally between the two mainspring-cylinde rs it is readily acted upon and controlled by said springs and the cylinders. The lever 40 is made substantially square for about one-third of its length and for the remaining distance it is made round to facilitate the attaching and adjusting of otln r parts to it.

42 is a hollow part formed upon the up or side of lever 40 close to the mainspring-cyiinder 15, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, and this part serves as a casing and guide for latch-bolt 43 and its controllirig-spring 14, as more fully shown in Fig. 2. The bolt 43 passes through the casing and also through the spring 44, which exerts its tension to force the inner end of the bolt outwardly against flange 21 of cylinder 15. The latch 43 is placed in this position for the purpose of having the bolt engage the tooth 31 each time the door is swung open, whether by hand or by the self-action of the device, and when so engaged. as the door is swung around to its closed position the bolt 43 causes the rotation of the cylinder 15 upon its arbor in the forward direction. By this means when the door is closed by hand the mainspring 14 Within said cylinder 15 is given an additional tension above that maintained by the pin 25 and the socket 23, and this increased tension is afterward employed by the device to effect the automatic opening of the door when the latter is unlatched. On the other hand, in case the door is closed by the selfacting parts of" the device the cylinder 15 will be held by the pawl 35 and the recess 31) in the position in which it stood when the door was opened by the machine. VVhcu the door has been opened by the power or force of the spring in cylinder 15, said cylinder carries the operating-lever 40 around with it by reason of the engagement of the latclnlmlt 43 in tooth 3], and said cylinder is revolved backward till the bent portion 35 of pawl 33 drops into the recess 30 of flange 21. The engagement of the pawl with the recess 30 serves to hold cylinder 15 from any further backward movement while the door is ajar, and when latch-bolt 43 is withdrawn from the tooth or notch 31 the pawl 35 will retain cylinder 15 in the position just described, even though the door he afterward closed by the auto matic action of cylinder 1.5. At the same time that pawl 35 enters recess 30 the other pawl 34 becomes disengaged from the tooth 32 of flange 21 on the lower cylinder, and when this operation takes place mainspringcylinder 15 is free to exert its power in the forward direction, which will close the door if the latch-bolt is withdrawn from the tooth 3]. \Vhen the door has been opened and closed by the force of the two mainsprings, the device will not again operate the door unless some one swings it open to set the elos ing-spring 14 and then closes it again to set the opening-spring 14, during which last act the latch 43 is allowed to catch the tooth 3] of cylinder 15, and thereby effects the additional winding of the opening-spring.

Latch-bolt 43 is provided with a small thumb knob or button 45, by means of which the bolt may be operated back and forth by hand. The outer end of the bolt 43 is provided with a T-head 46, which is held in the position shown by the screw 46. head is provided for the purpose of operating the bolt 43 by means of the forked. trigger or lever -17. This latter part is pivoted to the square portion of lever 40 by means of the screw or bolt 48. The fork of the trigger 47 straddles the lever 40, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Operating-lever 40 near its outer end passes between two roller-guides 49, which are operably mounted upon the pins or bolts 50, which pass through the projecting arms or ln s 51 of the guide yoke or bracket 52. This racket or yoke securely fastened to the central part of the door by means of the screws or bolts 53.

arms of bracket 52 and also between rollers 49, which are provided for the purpose of eliminating as far as possible all friction incident to the travel and strain of lever 40 when operating the door. When the door is closed, the bracket 52 and lever 40 are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and when the door is open these parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4.

In order to provide for the automatic clos ing of the door either immediately after it has been opened by the device or after the lapse of some time, as may be desired, I have provided a meter-like attachment which consists of the cylinder 54 and its related parts, as shown in Fi s. 1, 2, 3, and 4. This cylinder is compose of a main casing 55, provided with flan es at each end, to which the flanged head 55 is secured by means of the screws or bolts 56. The outer end of this head is provided with the packing-gland 57, which is secured to the head by means of threads, as shown. To the other end of the cylinder 54 is fitted the elongated spring-cap 58, the

screws 56.

The T- Under this construction the lever 40 is afforded free play between the outer end of which is also provided with threads to receive the packing-gland 59. This spring-rap is secured to the main casing of the cylinder by means of the bolts or g \Vithin this cylinder 54- is disposed the piston or plunger (30, which is constructed in the manner shown in Figs. 2, 12, 13, and 14-. in order to make said piston tit closely within said cylinder, the packingriiigs 61 are provided, and as a means of operating the plunger or piston l have attacl'ied to it the rod 62. This rod extends out through. the spring-cap 58 and thence for a considerable distance from the end of said cap, as shown in Figs. 1 and .2. The rod 62 is secured to the small hub (52 of the plunger by means of a pin 63. The spring 64-, through which rod 62 passes, is employed to force the piston or plunger back toward the mainspring-cylinders. \*"alve-cylinder 54 is intended to be filled with. oil or other suitable liquid, (the use of which will be explained below but it preferred to use glycerin cut in alcohol for the purpose. To fill the cylinder 54 with oil or liquid, a filling-cup 65, having the ti ght-iitting screw-cap 66, is provided, and this cup is secured to the casing of the cylinder near its inner end, as shown in Figs. 1 an d 7. After the cylinder is filled with liquid and cap 66 is screwed down tightly, closing the mouth of the cup, an. air-space left within said cup, which is required to afford a slight relief during the operation of the piston or plunger forward and backward inside the oilfilled cylinder.

67 represents a projecting part which is secured to the inner end of the piston-head by means of the screw or pin 68, as shown in Figs. 2 and 12. An opening 69 is provided through the part 67, and the outer end of this projection is provided with the threaded hole 70 to receive the threaded portion 71 of the valve-stem 72. The valve-stem 72 extends art way through or across the opening 69 in line with the duct or hole 73, which is bored through the plunger 60. The orifice of duct 73 is countersunk to form a seat to receive the reduced end of the valve 7 4, which is applied to the valve-stem by means of the pin 75. Fig. 13, which is a front end view of the piston or plunger 60, shows two small ports or holes 73. As shown by Fig. 14, these ports extend inwardly and connect with the central duct or passage 73. The purpose of these two ports is to provide a vent or )assage for the flow of the liquid as it passes through the valve 7 4 from one side of the plunger to the other. The piston-rod 62, being connected with the plunger 60 by being inserted in the passage 73, closes that end of said passage, and the ports 73 are provided to permit the liquid to pass to or from the duct 73.

Near the outer end of valve-stem 7 2 is secured the knurled thumb button or nut 76 IIO by means of set-screw 7 6. is provided for the purpose of operating valve 74 to open or close the vent or passage 73 in plunger 60, and by such means permits and regulates the flow of the liquid which was shifted to the rear of the cylinder 54 when the plun er was drawn forward, as shown in Fig. 2. if the valve 74 is opened wide, the fluid will flow through duct 73 quite freely, and the backward travel of the piston or plunger will be accomplished in a very short space of time practically instantly-wheroas if the valve is set by means of the thumbnut 76 so that it is nearly closed the flow of liquid will be restricted and the backward movement of the piston will be very slow, thereby prolonging for a considerable length of time the com lotion of its travel. Hence it will be seen t at by the use of this valve operating in connection with the liquid with which the cylinder is filled and controlled by the adjustable means described and shown the time intervening between the opening and the closing of the door may be determined or measured in any desired degree. The valve herein shown and described is capable of measuring the time very accurately and of performing its work very reliably, whether it is set to accomplish its purpose instantly or after the lapse of several minutes. The outer end of valve-stem 72 asses through an opening or hole 77 in the lbwer end of the trigger 47, which bears against the hub of the thumb-nut 76, and said trigger is held from disengagement from the valve-stein by means of the nut 78, which is attached to the end of the valve-stem by means of the threads, as shown in Figs. 1. and 2.

The working of the valve 74 in connection with the fluid-filled cylinder is as follows: When the door is closed, the stop 79, which is secured to the piston-rod 62 near its outer end by the set-screw 80, comes in contact with the downwardly-projecting guide-post 81, the upper end of whzch is screwed into the lower arm of the guide-yoke 52. The stop 79 being rigid on the piston-rod 62 the guidepost 81. carries or forces the piston-r0 and with it the plunger and related parts, to the forward end of the cylinder 54 and holds these parts in this position till the door has been swung open, either by some person or by the operation of the opening and closing device. In order to accomplish the movement of the plunger to the forward end of the cylinder 54 in the manner described, the cylinder being filled with liquid, it is necessary to provide for the passage of said liquid from the front to the rear end of the cylinder. As this must be done quickly, or within the space of time spent in closing the door, I have provided the check-valve or by-passage in the form of a cylindrical duct 83, bored lengthwise through the piston or plunger 60,

This thumb-nut l as shown in section in Fig. 12, in which is disposed the ball 84, having a diameter consid erably smaller than the hole 83. The forward end or mouth 83 of the duct 83 is choked or reduced, so as to permit of the ball 84 completely filling or being seated in said opening, thereby preventing the flu\V of any of the liquid while the plunger is being moved back to the rear end of cylinder 54. The other end of duct 83 is the full size of the bore; but the ball 84 is prevented from rolling out or escaping from said passage by reason of the fact that the projecting part 67 covers a portion of the orifice. By the use of this check-valve the plunger may be forced from the rear to the forward end of the cylinder in quick order, and the liquid which-fills the space in front of the plunger will force ball 84 away from its seat at the small end of passage 83 and flow freely through to the other end of the cylinder. When the plunger is moved forward as described, spring 64 is compressed within the head or cap 58 of the. cylinder, and it is held in such position while the door remains closed. As soon as the dooris unlatched and swung open this spring begins to exert its tension against the plungel and forces it back to the rear end of the cylinder. During this latter operation the oil or liquid is forced through valve 74 and ducts 73 and 73, and to do this it will require a longer or shorter period of time, accordingly the valve has been set, as described When the door is opened by the device, it is swung around on its hinges a distance slightly greater than ninety degrees. In order to prevent any vibration of the door when thrown ajar, and likewise to prevent it from opening too wide or coming to a stop with a sudden jerk, the (heck-cylinder 86 and the pistonplunger 87 are provided. The cylinder 86 is preferably cast or formed with the main casing of the valvecylinder 54 upon the bracket 88, which is attached to the operating-lever 40 by means of the sleeved portion 89, the latter being held rigidly 011 lever 40 by the set-screw 90. The check-cylinder 86 is formed with its forward end open, the mouth 86 being made slightly bell-shaped. The other end of the cylinder is closed, and in order to provide a slight vent for the purpose of relievin r the cushion caused by the compression of t 1e air when the 1plunger is insertcd I provide a screw 86", w 1ich operates in a threaded hole in the end of the cylinder, and to permit the escape of the air from said cylinder a small groove or slot is formed lengthwise on one side of said screw. The plunger 87 is mounted upon the rod 91 which is secured to the lower arm of the guide-yoke 52 and is held in rigid position by the screws 92. When the door is closed, the plunger 87 stands a few inches awayfrom the mouth of cylinder 86. as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and as the door is swung open the plunger moves backward as the distance between the mainspring-cylinders and the guide-yoke. 52 diminishes until it travels to the bottom or rear end of the cylinder.

When the door is in position to be opened by the device, the latch-bolt 43 is in engage ment with tooth 31 of mainspring-cylinder 15, and by reason of such engagement the tension of mainspring 14 in said cylinder ef fects the movement of the door to open position. The door being swung open far as the device will permit, the latchbolt 43 remains in the notch or tooth 31, and. by this I 5 operation cylinder 15 has been turned backward far enough to allow pawl 35 to drop into recess 30. Cylinder 15 is thus held. from further backward movement by pawl 35 and by the pin .29, which then bears against the standard 7, as well as by latch 43, which is still in notch 31, until a su'l'l'icicnt time has elapsed. to allow the liquid in cylinder 54 to pass from the rear end through valve 74 into the forward. end of said cylinder. As soon as enough of the liquid has passed to permit the plunger 60 to travel to the rear end or cylinder 54 the backward travel of said plunger and also that of the valve-stem forces back the lower end of the trigger 47. When 0 this is done, the forked. ends of the triggerwhich are in engagement with the T-head 46 of the latch-bolt 43, move forward and efl'ect the withdrawal of the latch from the notch 31. The instant that bolt 43 is released cyl indcr 15, actuated by its mainspring, starts forward, and the pin 28 then bearing against operating-lever 40, acting as a driver, forces said lever and also the door around until the latter is closed.

94 is a guide-piece secured to the operatinglever at its outer end by means of the setscrew 95, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. This guide de ends from the operating-lever in line with t e piston-rod 62, and its lower 45 end is provided with the loop or eye 96,

through which said piston operates. A set or tension screw 97 is threaded into the side of the loop or eye 96, and this is emplo ed for the purpose of clamping or holding the piston-rod from movement in or through said eye. The object of the guide 94 and the thumb-screw 97 is to provide a means of looking and holding the piston-rod and plunger 60, thereby preventing these parts from being forced backward by the tension of spring 64, which would efi'ect the automatic closing of the door. This feature of the device is only employed when it is desired to hold the door open for a longer space of time than that in which the self-acting parts may be set to operate. Sometimes it may be desired to kee thedoor open for an hour or two, and in suc 1 case the set-screw 97 is tightened against the iston-rod, as explained. v T e letter R (shown on cylinder 15 in Fig.

1) indicates that the cylinder is in position ready to cause the opening of the door wl'ien the latter is unlatched. The position of the letter R corresponds with that of the recess 30.

The original tension. of the springs and means for adjusting or regulating the same are necessary for the reasons, first, that it is seldom that two springs are made which have exactly the same flexibility and strength. Therefore it becomes necessary to provide a means of winding the springs in some degree in order to bring them to equal strength when applied to a device of the character described, one of the essential features of which is the balancing of the two oppositely-coiled springs. Second, it would not be. practicable to have 'a spring to do the work required of the springs 14 and 14, which would be completely at rest or without a certain amount of original tel'isionuntil the door is moved, opened or closed, to set the springs. The movement of the door is comparatively slight, being a trifle more than a quarter-turn on its hinges. A spring that would be strong enough to perform the work of swinging the door to the open or closed position, starting from no tension, would not have sufiicient power to either ell'ect the closing and latching of the door nor to open the door its full or required distance against the check, (which is a necessary attachment,) for the reason that as the door completes either of its movements its tension would be en.- tircly gone, whereas, as explained. above, the last Fraction of the opennig as well as the closing movement requires the exertion of some further force to latch the closed door or to check the open door.

The springs 14 and 14 are set at the start with enough tension,if each were allowed to act alone, to barely move the door on its hinges in the directions indicated by the coiling of the separate springs. Then so far as the springs are concerned the device is ready to perform its work when the additionalwinding of the springs is effected. It must be borne in mind, however, that when both of the springs are given the said original tension and nothing further is done with the device the springs balance each other and neither of them can move the door, even if the latter were unlatched. The original tension of the springs is applied when the door is in the c osed position. After they are so set the door must be swung open by an attendant in order to effect the additional windin of spring 14, (which is the spring employed for closing the door,) and when this spring and its cylinder 1 5 are turned backward by the opening of the door the latter is caught and held from recoiling forward by the pawl 34 dropping into the notch 32. Then when the attendant swings the door shut, the latch 43 having dropped into notch or tooth 31 of cylinder 15 at the same instant the pawl 34 caught the notch 32, the closing movement of the door effects the forward. turning of cylinder 15 and also the increasing of the tension of spring 14 in said cylinder, and when the door is latched or locked cylinder 15 will be held in said forward position until the door is subsequently unlatched, when spring 14 will exert its tension to swing the door open without any help from the attendant. At the same time that the door is swung to closed position by the attendant the stop engages the guide-post and effects the forward movement of valve 54 in the ll( uid-filled chamber 55, the liquid in front of the plunger passing through the lay-passage to the rear end of said chamber. This valve is also held in its forward position during the interval the door is held closed by the latch or lock; but as soon as the door is unlatched and spring 14 swings it open the contact between stop and guide post is broken, and the valve 54 will travel toward the rear of said chamber as fast as the feed through the valve and port will permit, according the latter have been set by means of the thumb-lmtton. If the latter parts have been set to allow the liquid to flow freely through the port, then the plunger will reach the rear of said chamber almost instantly, and as soon as it finishes its rearward travel the valve-stem will operate the trigger, which in turn forces the latch-bolt 43 forward out of notch 31. This latter operation frees the operating-lever 4O entirely from the cylinder l5 and spring 14. Then the cylinder 15, having been held in the position set by the first opening of the door by the attendant during all the time the door has been closing, closed, and opened, becomes operative for the reason that the o )ening of the door allowed the pawl 35 to drop into recess 30, and at the same time pawl 34 became free from the notch 32, and the door being in the open position lever -10 is once more in engagement with the pin 28 of cylinder 15. Hence when valve 54 has completed its backward movement, as described, and effected the release of latch 43 from notch 31 and pawl 35 enters recess 30 and pawl 34 leaves notch 32 the closing movement of the door will begin instantly, because pin 28, driven by the additional tension of spring 14 in cylinder 15, will force lever 40, and thereby the door to which the latter is connected, in the forward or closing direction with suflicient force to effect the closing and latching of the door. When all these movements and operations last described have been completed by the workings of the device itself, the door will not again be moved in either direction until after the attendant has repeated the acts heretofore described.

In applying my device to the doors of fire department houses the unlatching of the doors will be effected by the drivers of the different apparatus after they have mounted their seats and everything is in readiness for the run.

Believing that the operation of my door opening and closing device will be fully understood from the foregoing, further special explanation thereof is regarded as unneccssary.

It will be obvious that many of the details of construction of the said im )rovement may be varied without departing from the princi ples of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A door-operating device of the class described, comprising a pair of spring-controlled cylinders capable of operating or of being operated indepcndrntly, and adapted to exert the power derived from the respective springs in opposite directions, a lever, having one end pivotally disposed between and concentric with said cylinders, the opposite end thereof being operatively connected with a door or like part adapted to operate said cylinders in opposite directions and to be operated by said cylinders in like manner, a fluid-regulated valve connected with and carried by said liver, adapted to allow or to prevent the instant operation of one of said cylinders, a check, comprisin a cylinder connected with said lever, and a p unge r connected with the door, adapted to prevent the vibrating of the door when open, and means for holding said door in open position for an indefinite period of time, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a door and its frame, of a pair of spririg-controlled cylinders operatively mounted upon said frame, said cylinders having their springs wound in d ifferent direction, and each capable of operating or being operated independent of the other, an operating lever or arm, having one end pivotally and concentrically disposed between said cylinders, the other end thereof extending toward, and being operatively at tached to the central part of said door, said lever or arm being adapted to move with said door when opened or closed by hand, and also to effect the opening and the closing of said door when operated by said spring-controlled cylinders, a meter or timing part carried by said operating lcvir or arm, ad aptcd to allow or to prevent the instant and automatic closing of said door, means for setting said meter or timing part in operative position, and means for adjusting said part for either instant or prolonged action, substantially as described.

3. A door-operating device of the class dcscribed, comprising a pair of independent, cylinders mounted upon the frame of a door, springs adapted to rotate said cylinders in opposite directions, a liver, having, one (11(l pivoted. or hinged between said cylinders, the

opposite end thereof being operatively connected with a door or like part, a fluid-regulated valve mounted upon said lever adapted to cause or to prevent the instant operation of one of said cylinders, substantially as described.

4. The combination with. a door and its frame, of an arm or lever operatively connected with said door and with said frame, adapted to move in directions corresponding to the movements of said door, a pair ol spring-actrmted cylinders mounted upon said frame adapted to effect the movement ol said arm or lever and also of said door, and further adapted to be operated in opposite directions by the opening and closing of said door, and a meter or timing part operativr 1y connected with said lever adapted to allow the automatic closing of said door, rithrr instantly or after the lapse of a measured tim substantially as described.

5. A door-operating device of the class described, comprising a lever operativcly connected with a door and also with the frame thereof, a pair of independent mainsprings mounted upon separate arbors operatively secured to said frame, said mainsprings bring coiled or wound in opposite directions, means, comprising spring-colitrolled pins or bolts, for holding or maintaining the tension given to said springs, a cylinder or drum il'icasing each of said mainsprings and connected with the outer ends thereof adapted to rotate. upon said arbors, a notch or tooth formed. upon the outer surface of one cylinder, a recess formed upon said cylinder iii line with said notch or tooth, a tooth formed in the outer surface of the second cylinder, a pawl or pallet adapted to engage the recess of the first cylinder and also to engage the tooth. on the second cylinder, an operating-lever, having one end pivotally mounted on the inner ends of the said arbors, the opposite end thereof being operatively connected with a guide-yoke secured to the door, a latch or bolt mounted upon said lever adapted to engage the tooth or notch of the first cylinder when said door is swung open, a trigger pivoted to said operating-lever adapted to withdraw or release said latch from engagement with said notch or tooth, a fluid-controlled meter or valve carried by said operating-lee ver and connected with said trigger adapted to be set and held in operative position by the closing of said door, and to become selfacting upon the opening of said door to cause the release of said latch or bolt and thereby the rcclosing of said door automatically, means for setting said meter or valve for quick or prolonged action, and means for preventing the automatic workings of said meter and said device, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a door and its frame, of a pair of reversely-coiled springs operatively mounted upon said frame, a cylinder or drum connected with each of said springs, an operating-lever disposed between said cylinders or drums and connected with said door, a latch connected with said lever, a trigger in engagemei'it with said latch, a fluid-controlled valve connected with said trigger, means for setting said valve in operative position, and means for setting said valve to operate said trigger within a measured time, substantially as described.

7. A dcor-operating device of the class described, com 'irising a pair of reverscly-coiled springs, a cylinder or drum connected with and incasing each of said springs, an operating-lever connected with said cylinders and with a door adapted to open said door when operated by the power of one of said springs, and. further adapted to close said door when operated by the power of the other of said springs, and a liquid-controlled valve or meter adapted to time the operation of one of said springs, substantially as described.

8. A door-1iperating device of the class described, comprising a pair of independent oppositely-coiled springs, a pair of cylinders connected with and incasing said springs, a lever o ')eratively connected with said cylinders and also with a. door, adapted to effect the opening and the closing of said door when moved by the power of said springs, a fluidcontrolled valve set in operative position by the closing of said door, and becoming selfacting by the opening of said door, means for setting said valve in. a number of different positions, and means for preventing the au tomatic action of said. valve and thereby the automatic closing of the door, substantially as described.

'9. A door opening and closing device, comprising a pair of independent, reversclycoiled s )rings mounted one above the other on the irame of a door, a cylinder or drum connected with each of said springs and adapted to rotate upon the same axial line, an operating-lever, having one end operatively disposed between and concentric with said springs and said cylinders, the other end of said lever being operatively disposed in a guide-yoke secured to a moving member, said lever being adapted to rotate the upper cylinder or drum in the forward direction when the door is closed by hand, and to be operated automatically by said cylinder in the opposite direction upon the unlatchin of the door, said lever being further adaptc to rotate the lower cylinder in the backward direction when the door is opened by hand, and to be operated by said cylinder or drum in the o positc direction, substantially as describe 10. A door opening and closing device, comprising a pair of independent, reversely coiled or wound s rings mounted one above the other on the ame of a door, a cylinder or drum connected with each of said springs and adapted to rotate u on the same axial line, an operating-lever, l iaving one end operatively disposed between and concentric with said springs and said cylinders, the other end of said lever being operatively disposed in a guide-yoke secured to a door, said lever being adapted to rotate the upper cylinder or drum in the forward direction when the door is closed by hand, and to be operated automatically by said cylinder in the op 0- site direction upon the unlatching of the door, said lever bein further adapted to rotate the lower cylinder in the backward direction when the door is opened by hand, and to be operated by said cylinder in the opposite direction, a fluid-filled cylinder mounted upon said lever, a iston in said cylinder, a piston-rod, a va ve connected with said piston, a stern connected with said valve, a latch-bolt connected With said lever, and a tri ger pivoted to said lever and connected with said valve-stein and also with said latch-bolt and adapted when forced backward by the travel of said piston and valve to allow the automatic closing of the door, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY G. BUNDY. Witnesses:

EDGAR V. BLOSSBURGH, HARRY DE XVALLAGE. 

